Buena Vista's tuition & fees has increased from $31,318 (2015) to $41,798 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 33.46% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $8,874 (year 2015) to $9,061 (year 2025).
Buena Vista's tuition increase rate is lower than the Iowa's average increase rate of 57.31%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 32.41% from 2015 ($43,591).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Buena Vista's COA is $57,721, which is increased by 5.37% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Buena Vista's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $43,591 | $43,930 | - |
| 2016-17 | $44,788 | $45,076 | 2.75% |
| 2017-18 | $45,619 | $45,787 | 1.86% |
| 2018-19 | $46,808 | $47,614 | 2.61% |
| 2019-20 | $48,375 | $49,417 | 3.35% |
| 2020-21 | $49,573 | $51,353 | 2.48% |
| 2021-22 | $51,796 | $53,162 | 4.48% |
| 2022-23 | $52,899 | $55,194 | 2.13% |
| 2023-24 | $54,779 | $58,224 | 3.55% |
| 2024-25 | $57,721 | $61,635 | 5.37% |
The tuition & fees have increased 33.46% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $41,798. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Buena Vista University over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $31,318 | $8,874 | - |
| 2016-17 | $32,210 | $9,126 | 2.85% |
| 2017-18 | $32,854 | $9,306 | 2.00% |
| 2018-19 | $34,004 | $9,594 | 3.50% |
| 2019-20 | $35,194 | $9,594 | 3.50% |
| 2020-21 | $36,426 | $9,936 | 3.50% |
| 2021-22 | $37,518 | $9,936 | 3.00% |
| 2022-23 | $38,644 | $9,936 | 3.00% |
| 2023-24 | $40,190 | $10,170 | 4.00% |
| 2024-25 | $41,798 | $9,061 | 4.00% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $2,089, and it has increased 136.05% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $885 | - |
| 2016-17 | $999 | 12.88% |
| 2017-18 | $999 | |
| 2018-19 | $999 | |
| 2019-20 | $999 | |
| 2020-21 | $1,190 | 19.12% |
| 2021-22 | $1,146 | -3.70% |
| 2022-23 | $1,126 | -1.75% |
| 2023-24 | $1,132 | 0.53% |
| 2024-25 | $2,089 | 84.54% |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 19.77% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 118.38% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Buena Vista University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $11,388 | $11,727 | - |
| 2016-17 | $11,579 | $11,867 | 1.68% |
| 2017-18 | $11,766 | $11,934 | 1.61% |
| 2018-19 | $11,805 | $12,611 | 0.33% |
| 2019-20 | $12,182 | $13,224 | 3.19% |
| 2020-21 | $11,957 | $13,737 | -1.85% |
| 2021-22 | $13,132 | $14,498 | 9.83% |
| 2022-23 | $13,129 | $15,424 | -0.02% |
| 2023-24 | $13,457 | $16,902 | 2.50% |
| 2024-25 | $13,834 | $17,748 | 2.80% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Buena Vista University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buena Vista University | $41,798 | $40,190 | 4.00% |
| Drake University | $51,960 | $49,944 | 4.04% |
| Upper Iowa University | $19,475 | $19,000 | 2.50% |
| Maharishi International University | $16,530 | $16,530 | - |
| Saint Ambrose University | $36,658 | $35,598 | 2.98% |
| Waldorf University | $25,978 | $25,220 | 3.01% |
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